Round 23
Sunday, August 26, 3:20pm
Melbourne v GWS Giants, MCG

First quarter: Melbourne 4.2 (26) to GWS Giants 4.1 (25)

In an entertaining opening, Melbourne got the first goal for the day, courtesy of Tom McDonald.

The Giants answered with three in a row to gain a 12-point lead, before the Demons hit back with three of their own.

James Harmes kicked one from outside 50 metres, while Aaron vandenBerg converted after receiving a beautiful pass from Charlie Spargo. And when T.McDonald landed his second in time-on, Melbourne was up by seven points.

The Giants secured their fourth goal via Jeremy Cameron and at quarter-time, the Demons led by the narrowest of margins.

The only sour point for Melbourne was a shoulder injury to tough-nut Dean Kent, who immediately headed to the rooms after a collision during play.

Second quarter: Melbourne 7.6 (48) to GWS Giants 5.5 (35)

Melbourne couldn’t have started the second term any better, when Angus Brayshaw kicked truly 22 seconds in.

But the Giants quickly answered through Harry Himmelberg, bringing the margin back to one-point in favour of the Demons.

T.McDonald secured his third major midway through the term, but Melbourne had further concerns with its personnel, when Dom Tyson came from the field with what appeared to be a wrist injury and Jake Melksham copped a heavy hit. Both were forced to the rooms, meaning the red and blue had just one fit player on the bench.

Christian Petracca bobbed up at the 25-minute mark with his first, giving Melbourne a 15-point lead. But the home side took a 13-point advantage into half-time, after Giant Stephen Coniglio kicked a behind after the siren.

Brayshaw and Coniglio had the most touches by the long change, with 16 disposals each.

Third quarter: Melbourne 12.9 (81) to GWS Giants 5.8 (38)

With the game in the balance entering the second half, Melbourne upped the ante considerably, and turned the game on its head.

The Demons booted five goals to zip, leading by 45 points at the 22-minute mark.

Max Gawn kicked the first of the third term, before Petracca booted back-to-back majors, giving him three by the final change.

Nathan Jones got on the board and when Alex Neal-Bullen landed his first, the Demons had recorded seven in succession from the 12-minute mark of the second term.

At the final break, Melbourne led by 43 points.

Final quarter: Melbourne 15.12 (102) d GWS Giants 8.9 (57)

It would take a mighty comeback by GWS, if it was to win, and although it booted two of the first three goals of the final term – Sam Weideman was Melbourne’s goalkicker during this period – the Giants still trailed by 37 points.

And when Melbourne booted consecutive majors via Neal-Bullen and Jake Melksham – who incredibly played out the game, after it seemed he could be sidelined following his knock – the red and blue led by 51 points at the 19-minute mark.

Giant Jeremy Finlayson kicked the last goal for the match at the 21-minute mark and in the end, Melbourne won by 45 points.

Brayshaw and Coniglio finished with an equal game-high 32 disposals, while Clayton Oliver had 30 touches.

In front of a record crowd between the two sides of 37,285, Melbourne secured a home final against Geelong at the MCG. It will be the red and blue’s first final since 2006.

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